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Vol. 17: This Issue
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In
today’s media-rich age, good old-fashioned reading
is still at the heart of academic achievement. It is
easy to see why research clearly shows that reading
is one of the strongest predictors of school success.
Reading opens the doors to new people, places, and cultures,
stimulates the imagination like no other medium can,
and reinforces organized thinking. |
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Make Reading
a
Part of a Child’s Life
Here is a list of tips for parents
to help young readers blossom as they grow up:
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Let your child see how important
reading is by doing it yourself and having book
shelves your child can reach.
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Read to your child every day.
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Make library visits a regular
routine.
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Books on tape can help pass the
time on long road trips.
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Set aside time as a family to
read for fun by making bedtime stories a day-end
ritual.
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Give books as gifts.
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Make sure you have a comfortable,
well lit place to cuddle together with a book.
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Make a book by inviting your child
to tell a story about anything she wants while
you write it down.
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Select media products that promote
reading.
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As your children get older, read
longer chapter books and poetry to them.
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Reading
Aloud
Early and Often
Reading aloud is fun. Tiny babies like the soothing
sounds of a familiar voice reading. Even when they prefer
“eating” their books, they are beginning to
make the mental connection with books that encourages
academic achievement. They are associating reading with
comfort, security, and enjoyment.
There are technical benefits that come from reading
aloud as well. Children start to associate marks on
a page with language. They also pick up the basics,
like reading a book from front to back and left to
right, the building blocks for reading.
Starting
with
Baby Talk
Raising readers starts with baby talk because the ability
to differentiate sounds is the first crucial step in
learning to associate sounds with letters. Studies show
that one of the strongest predictors of later reading
ability is the amount of one-to-one conversation between
caregiver and baby. The more parents talk to babies,
the more practice babies get distinguishing sounds and
the faster they are able to begin to imitate sounds
they hear. So parents can begin to raise good readers
before their kids can even hold a book. |
The New and
Improved mediafamily.org
This fall, were launching a new and improved Web site
that preserves all of the same content that our users rely
upon and better organizes it for ease of use. The site also
offers completely new features, including:
- A KidScore®
rating system allowing any site visitor to rate movies,
video games, and TV shows
- Instant-results Web polls on important trends
- Sign-up options for special email updates on timely
issues
Visit www.mediafamily.org
this fall to take advantage of this exciting new online
resource.
New Tools and Resources from the Institute
These useful products can be purchased via the online store
at www.mediafamily.org or by calling 1-888-672-5437.
 Jolts
and Tricks®: How the Media Hook Kids
How do media affect the developing brain of a child? What
kind of methods do media use to keep us watching?
The Jolts and Tricks resource package answers these and
other important questions. This 15-minute video, discussion
guide, and CD provide expert information, discussion points,
and activities to enhance the video. Jolts and Tricks
will transform the way you see the power of media and
give you knowledge to make informed choices. Dr.
Dave’s Media Tips
Sold as a set of 10, these Parent Tip Sheets are easy
to read and packed with quick facts, expert information,
and healthy media tips to use in your school or business
newsletters, information packets, clinic waiting areas,
offices, churches, community centers, and many other places.
These masters can be reproduced in unlimited quantities
and used again and again. The entire set is a comprehensive
guide for parents to begin to make informed media choices.
Selling soft
Drinks with HARD Liquor
Someone spiked the punch on TV and kids are drinking
it. There is a new class of alcoholic beverage that tastes
like soda pop, has the alcohol content of beer and comes
in hard liquor names like Smirnoff Ice, Skyy Blue and Mike’s
Hard Lemonade. They’re called “alcopops,”
and if you’ve watched TV lately you have seen their
ads: wild party scenes that make the drinks look harmless
and exciting.
A recent study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest
showed that 73% of teens could remember alcopop ads they
had seen on TV. Our own research has shown the size of a
beer company’s advertising budget predicts its share
of the illegal teen drinking market.
Now that alcopops are being promoted in the same way as
beer, it is becoming the next drinking craze among youth.
The fruity taste of alcopop beverages appeals to young entry-level
drinkers because they don’t taste like liquor or beer.
Drinking plays a major role in teen traffic accidents, violence,
date rape, sex, and other risky behaviors. Alcopop ads on
TV aren’t just harmless party scenes—they pose
a real danger to kids.
Research Watch: David Walsh gives talk
for World Health Organization
The Institute’s David Walsh, Ph.D. presented an overview
of the most recent neurological and psychological research
on the effects of advertising on young people at a World
Health Organization (WHO) conference in Italy recently.
Dr. Walsh gave his talk, entitled “Slipping Under the
Radar: Advertising and the Mind,” on the first day
of the WHO’s Conference entitled, Health©: Marketing
and Youth.
“We have always known that advertising is influential,
but now we are really beginning to understand exactly how
advertisements influence people, especially young people,”
said Dr. Walsh.
Making our Work Possible
The National Institute on Media and the Family’s continuing
activities depend on contributions from generous supporters.
Without this support we could not conduct all of our groundbreaking
research, and we would not be able to reach as many educators
and families with our vital information and useful tools.
The Institute accepts donations via mail, telephone, and
online:
606 24th Avenue South, Suite 606
Minneapolis, MN, 55454
1-888-672-5437
Concerned about how media violence and disrespect affects
your family?
What:
Support the important work of the National Institute
on Media and the Family.
Why: Kids
need your help. The Institute is a nonprofit organization.
Your gift helps us help parents and educators help children.
How: Send
your tax-deductable gift to:
National Institute
on Media and the Family
Riverside Professional Building
606 24th Ave. South, Suite 606
Minneapolis, MN 55454-1438
Who: YOU
can make a difference for our children.
Also:
How you
can help.
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